Dugout Discussion

Mount, Pulisic and Ings benched as Boxing Day rotation strikes

There are six Premier League matches kicking off simultaneously at 15:00 GMT this afternoon.

Aston Villa v Norwich City, Bournemouth v Arsenal, Chelsea v Southampton, Crystal Palace v West Ham United, Everton v Burnley and Sheffield United v Watford are the half-dozen fixtures in question, with two more games to follow later this evening.

The headline team news perhaps comes from Stamford Bridge, where there are benchings for Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Danny Ings.

Frank Lampard has seemingly stuck with a 3-4-3 for the visit of Southampton, with Fikayo Tomori again lining up at centre-half.

Marcos Alonso, the suspended Mateo Kovacic and Mount drop out of the team that defeated Spurs, with Jorginho, Emerson and Callum Hudson-Odoi promoted to the starting XI.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s alterations both come in attack, with Ings and the injured Shane Long replaced by Che Adams and Michael Obafemi.

Bjorn Engels, Frederic Guilbert, the injured John McGinn and Conor Hourihane make way for Aston Villa, with Ahmed El Mohamady, Ezri Konsa, Marvelous Nakamba and Trezeguet recalled.

Norwich City are unchanged.

At the Vitality Stadium, Jack Simpson, Callum Wilson and the fit-again Steve Cook replace the suspended Diego Rico, the injured Simon Francis and the benched Philip Billing.

Mikel Arteta makes three changes from the side that started the goalless draw at Everton.

Sokratis returns from suspension and replaces the banned Calum Chambers, while Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil oust Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe from the starting XI.

Mamadou Sakho returns from suspension for Crystal Palace, with Cheikhou Kouyate moving back into midfield and James McCarthy dropping to the bench.

Max Meyer replaces Christian Benteke in attack.

Neither Lukasz Fabianski nor David Martin have recovered from injuries, so the much-maligned Roberto starts between the posts for West Ham.

Pablo Zabaleta replaces the suspended Ryan Fredericks at right-back in the Hammers’ only other change.

Carlo Ancelotti makes two changes for his first match in charge.

Seamus Coleman and Bernard start, with Tom Davies and the injured Alex Iwobi dropping out.

Robbie Brady replaces the suspended Jeff Hendrick for Burnley, while Jay Rodriguez is in for the benched Ashley Barnes.

There is one change apiece for Sheffield United and Watford: John Fleck is back from suspension and replaces Luke Freeman for the hosts, while Nathaniel Chalobah is in for the banned Abdoulaye Doucoure for the Hornets.


Aston Villa XI: Heaton, El Mohamady, Hause, Konsa, Targett, Nakamba, Douglas Luiz, Grealish, El Ghazi, Wesley, Trezeguet.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram, Tettey, Trybull, Buendía, McLean, Cantwell, Pukki.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale, S. Cook, Mepham, Simpson, Stacey, L. Cook, Lerma, Gosling, Fraser, C. Wilson, King.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, David Luiz, Sokratis, Saka, Xhaka, Torreira, Nelson, Özil, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Rüdiger, Zouma, Tomori, Azpilicueta, Kanté, Jorginho, Emerson, Willian, Hudson-Odoi, Abraham.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Soares, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg, Redmond, Adams, Obafemi.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Kelly, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Kouyaté, McArthur, Meyer, Ayew, Zaha.

West Ham XI: Roberto, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Snodgrass, Noble, Rice, Fornals, Antonio, Haller.

Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Holgate, Digne, Sidibé, Sigurdsson, Delph, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.

Burnley XI: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Brady, Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Rodriguez, Wood.

Sheffield Utd XI: Henderson, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, McGoldrick.

Watford XI: Foster, Mariappa, Kabasele, Cathcart, Femenía, Capoue, Chalobah, Hughes, Sarr, Deeney, Deulofeu.

1,485 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Lol Lundstram Captainers in Tears 😀

    1. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      jejeje

    2. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lund goal incoming

  2. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Lundy CS dead. :/

  3. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    SHU bubble officially burst

  4. Nightcrawler
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Good goal if you only have lund right?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      100%

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      The best

  5. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Yes Watford!!!

  6. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Arteta gave it his best shot but hints just haven’t worked out and Arsenal FC will now be commencing the search for a new manager

  7. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sheff Utd CS gone. Own Lundstram, but with an EO of 100% I don't care. Destroys those double Sheff Utd defence owners.

    1. FPL_Sponge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      It certainly does

    2. JustPark
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Still early. Henderson does assist as well. You already know about Lunds.

  8. Babelcopter
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Lord captain fail 🙁

  9. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    F sake Blades

  10. FPL_Sponge
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    SHU defensive double up

  11. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hendo + Lundy combo f**ked up

    1. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      classic post by you

  12. jimmyabs1987
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Those Lund captainers must be happy....

    1. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      They thought they were being clever 😉

    2. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      simmer

    3. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah i also captained lundstram. It was worth a punt but didn't pay off. But my cup opponent does have triple Sheffield defense

      1. Mo Salah No Mane
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Wow that's lucky

  13. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    #ArtetaOut is a clever hashtag. Caught me off guard as he just got the job.

  14. Ask Yourself
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Deulofeu is sexy

  15. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Arsenal, Chelsea, Manu nor Chelsea can be trusted. Unbelievable.

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Spurs*

  16. Mo Salah No Mane
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    YYYYYEEEEERRRRRSSSSS WATFORD!
    My fpl cup opponent has triple Sheffield with Lundstram captain.

    Told you guys don't captain him

    1. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Triple defence

    2. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      but you say a lot of things

      1. Mo Salah No Mane
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Actually not as much as I'd like to

  17. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Double SHU defence fail 🙁

  18. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Feck it might switch over to Arsenal match to scout Wilson

    1. FPL_Sponge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not Wilson, just a very entertaining match!

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I’m getting an uncontrollable urge to bring him in

        At the minute he’s like the roulette wheel that’s come up even for 10 spins in a row and I have 50 grand I can throw on odd for a few spins 🙂

  19. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Triple SHU FAIL

  20. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hendo OG?

    1. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Deulofeu

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Say it ain’t so

  21. Sailboats
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Cup rival has triple SHU defense =)

    1. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Same lol 😀

    2. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Good start for ya than 🙂

    3. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Same

  22. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Well this is going well

  23. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Henderson and Lundstram owner. Damn

  24. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    ML rival has triple sheff defence, ideal

  25. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Punt on lundstram captain didn't pay off. Oh well, atleast my cup opponent has triple Sheffield defense.

    1. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thats looking on the bright side.

  26. drughi
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I need west ham and Everton goals

  27. Nightcrawler
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Not sure why sheffield double def owners are complaining. U get what u pay for

    1. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Explain:

    2. Tasty Jerk
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Indeed, we get Lundstrum (1st place) and Baldock (3rd place) highest point scoring defenders for a bargain price 🙂

  28. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Can see why Hudson Annoy doesn’t play now.

  29. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Cup opponent captained Lundy LOL

  30. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone knows how's Pukki playing? Chances of any party tonight?

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Missed a 1 on 1 and another decent chance

    2. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not good, hardly getting a touch of the ball

    3. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yellow carded

    4. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Wasted 2 good chances

    5. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks all, seems might be a failed punt!

      1. Olivier Bernards watch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        i think you had/have good reason to expect from him today